Buoyant aquatic amusement device with reinforcing cover

ABSTRACT

A spherical, inflated elastic body enclosed in an inelastic cover. The body has ropes dangling downwardly from its top and also has a network of cords disposed on the exterior surface of the cover. The cord network provides finger holds and toe holds which, along with the dangling ropes, assist a person in climbing out of the water onto the top of the body. The bottom of the body is connected to a mooring line which is secured through a tension spring to an anchor block.

United States Patent Bennet [451 July 18,1972

[54] BUOYANT AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH REINFORCING COVER [72] Inventor: Maureen Constance Bennet, Ste. 104,

1124, Meadowlands Drive, Ottawa, 0ntan'o, K2E-6l-l9, Carleton, Canada [22] Filed: Aug. 5, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 61,083

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data March 19, 1970 Canada ..77,817

52 us. 01. ..272/1 B, 9/8 R, 9/1 1 A 51 1111. c1 ..A63g 31/12 58 Field of Search ..272/1 B; 273/58 BA, 58 c, 58 D;

\ 9/8 R, 2 A, 11 A [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,564,313 12/1925 Alger ..272/l B 1,828,821 10/1931 Short et al. ..114/230 2,642,693 6/ 1953 Broady 3,491,997 l/l970 Winters ..272/1 13 Primary ExaminerRichard C. Pinkham Assistant Examiner-R. T. Stoufl'er Attorney-Johnson, Marcus & Wray [57] ABSTRACT A spherical, inflated elastic body enclosed in an inelastic cover. The body has ropes dangling downwardly from its top and also has a network of cords disposed on the exterior surface of the cover. The cord network provides finger holds and toe holds which, along with the dangling ropes, assist a person in climbing out of the water onto the top of the body.

The bottom of the body is connected to a mooring line which is secured through a tension spring to an anchor block.

2 Claims, 2 Drawing Figures 13 4 llz" :1 n "6 1a BUOYANT AQUATIC AMUSEMENT DEVICE WITH REINFORCING COVER The nature of previously known devices have a tendency to cause danger or hazard to the swimmer or person coming in contact with them. This is caused by virtue of the action of the device possibly striking another bather, or, by floating about with restriction, or, containing materials or shapes which in themselves present a hazard, particularly to the young or less robust of persons. Accordingly, it is a principal object to provide an amusement device which is safe to use and which also embodies recreational action.

It is a further principal object of the present invention to provide persons of all ages with safe recreational amusement of a health promoting nature in addition to developing aquatic skills and at the same time, a source of immense humorous entertainment to onlookers.

I have found particularly that the problem of danger by action, or, of potentially hazardous materials, may be effectively resolved by having a minimum of projections on the device and closely adjacent the surface of a soft and pliable buoyant body. I further have found that by using an anchor or mooring line on the device and attaching the same to a fixed position through a coil spring, there is increased dynamic natural reaction conducive to generating enthusiasm of participants durmg use.

Accordingly there is provided, in accordance with the present invention, an aquatic amusement and physiotheraphy device, consisting of a buoyant spheroidal body having a net like outer reinforcing cover extending over substantially the entire surface thereof and providing control for the outer shape of the body and grips engageable by the fingers and toes of the participants using the device and an anchor assembly connected to said buoyant body to retain it in a floating situ, said anchor assembly including a mooring line having a tension spring therein controlling extension of the mooring line permitting maximum rocking displacement of said buoyant body under dynamic loading conditions such as bathers trying to climb up and over the body.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS The invention is illustrated by way of example in the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the device complete in its floating position, anchored to the bottom of a typical pool or other body of water. A portion of the device is shown having the cover open to expose the bladder element; and

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary view of part of FIG. 1 on an enlarged scale.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawing, there is illustrated in FIG. 1 an inflated bladder which may be of any suitable size and made of a natural or synthetic, elastic material, i.e., rubber. For purposes of inflating and deflating the bladder, an appropriately suitable valve arrangement 11 is provided submerged in water 25 at the lower end of the bladder. A covering made of substantially inelastic material covers substantially the entire outer surface of the bladder 10. The cover 12 consists of an inelastic material having a series of cords 19 in a network attached thereto providing truss reinforcing arbitrarily spaced suitable to the size of the bladder. Depending from the lowermost cord 19, which circumscribes the bladder adjacent the valve assembly 11, is a draped portion 13 drawn together by a cord 14, threaded through a series of eyelets 15. The eyelets are located along the lower edge of the portion 13, thus closing the access to the valve 11. The cord 14 is looped through one end of a coil spring 16 connecting it thereto and the ends of such cord are threaded through the eyelets 15. Similarly, another cord 20 is looped through an opposite end of the coil spring 16 and attached to a securing ring 21, which is intended to be stationary by for example being fixed to an anchor block 22. The anchor block serves to retain the device in a desired swimming or bathing location in the water and the sprin serves to accentuate any rocking displacement action cause by bathers attempting, with the aid of the protruding reinforcement cords 19 as toeholds etc. to scale the outer surface of the covered bladder assembly and ropes 18, of an arbitrary length and diameter are suspended from the uppermost rung of the reinforcing cords 19.

FIG. 2, shows the reinforcing cording 19, with strips of material 23 identical to the covering overlying cords l9 and attached to the cover 12 as by, for example, machine stitching, the strips 23 serve to hold captive the cording 19.

I claim:

1. An amusement, recreational and therapeutic device comprising:

a. a spheroidal, soft and pliable buoyant body of a diameter greater than the height of an average person;

b. a covering on said body having enlargements spaced apart from one another providing projections from said body extending outwardly therefrom sufficiently to be gripped by ones fingers and toes to assist one in scaling the outer surface of said body when floating;

c. a mooring line attached to said covered body for anchoring the same in a swimming area; and

d. a spring in said mooring line permitting extension and retraction of the same such that when said buoyant body is moored at a selected site there is increased dynamic reaction from participants attempting to climb up and over the outer surface of said body.

2. An aquatic amusement device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spheroidal, soft and pliable buoyant body comprises an elastic air-filled bladder enclosed by said covering, said covering being of essentially non-elastic fabric having a net of cord reinforcements attached thereto and providing said projections extending outwardly from said body sufficiently to be gripped by ones fingers and toes. 

1. An amusement, recreational and therapeutic device comprising: a. a spheroidal, soft and pliable buoyant body of a diameter greater than the height of an average person; b. a covering on said body having enlargements spaced apart from one another providing projections from said body extending outwardly therefrom sufficiently to be gripped by one''s fingers and toes to assist one in scaling the outer surface of said body when floating; c. a mooring line attached to said covered body for anchoring the same in a swimming area; and d. a spring in said mooring line permitting extension and retraction of the same such that when said buoyant body is moored at a selected site there is increased dynamic reaction from participants attempting to climb up and over the outer surface of said body.
 2. An aquatic amusement device as defined in claim 1 wherein said spheroidal, soft and pliable buoyant body comprises an elastic air-filled bladder enclosed by said covering, said covering being of essentially non-elastic fabric having a net of cord reinforcements attached thereto and providing said projections extending outwardly from said body sufficiently to be gripped by one''s fingers and toes. 